Cleaning inside your doors

[Jackiex]

I am just interested in what everyone does when cleaning where the doors hinges are etc. I have a little trouble making sure they are as clean as the rest of the car.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Cleaning inside your doors

Originally posted by Jackiex
I am just interested in what everyone does when cleaning where the doors hinges are etc. I have a little trouble making sure they are as clean as the rest of the car.

Hi Jackiex,

It depends on how dirty these areas are and how accessible they are.

For light dirt in easy to access areas, you can use a quick detailer rand a microfiber polishing cloth.

For heavier dirt build-up, you might try a product like our All Purpose Cleaner

.

Spray this product into the door jams and find a way to agitate with a brush and then rinse with a stream of water. You have to be careful not to get water inside your car.

Once you remove any surface dirt, waxing these areas with a quality cleaner/wax like Meguiar's Cleaner/Wax



will restore the beauty of the paint, protect it and make future cleaning easier.

Hope this helps...

Mike

[Chubs]

When just washing my car or others I always wipe down the door jams with a towel and QD after I wash and dry the car. When detailing I always clean the jams when I'm doing the wheels and before I wash the paint. I will use a old wash mitt, brushes and AP+ and sometimes some wax and grease remover in a spray bottle to get those hinges clean. Just becarefull about getting any of the interior. If AP+ is to strong or some wax and grease remover gets on the trim for to long it could stain it. I usually keep a towel over my shoulder to wipe down those spots. I use two different spray nozzles to wash my car. One the usual pistol grip for wash the car and then I have one of those pencil type brass ones to get the door jams. This type you can control the spray better and more consistent so you don't get so much on the interior panels. I also have quick disconnects on my hose and sprayers for quick changing and I don't have to shut off the water. In the end of detailing the car don't forget to wax the jams, shine the rubber seals, and lube the hinges again.
Sorry about the novel.

Chubs

[orange monkeyee]

My steps to like new doorjambs:

Products needed:

Your choice of Meg's carwash soap, an empty spray bottle bottle, the hottest water you can safely hold in a spray bottle, #39 if the doorjamb rubber seals are very bad, #40 for cleaning and protecting the vinyl and rubber seals, MF or %100 cotton terry towel for wiping off the dirt after you clean, also applicator pads for #39 and for #40, possibly ScratchX if the paint has scratches from where a persons shoes would scratch by getting in and out of the car, also some #6 cleaner/wax for after you are finsished with the paint. Man, the list goes on.... Also one or two fine tipped foam brushes that you would use for painting ( these can be found in the painting sections at stores for lsomewhere between 39-79 cents a piece).


Ok, now that you have your crate full of tools and accesories rounded up, let's start:

1. You need to mix up a hot carwash soap solution to clean the paint in the doorjambs, I mix about a half ounce of GCCW into an 8oz bottle, and this stuff cleans paint very well.
2. Spray down the doorjambs with the hot soapy solution and wipe down. Repeat this as many times as needed to clean the paint to its original cleanliness.
4. I don't know if it is "proper" , but I spray down the door hinge area along with the air line/ wire wrap ( all in one big black rubber tube) and clean this with the GCCW solution and wipe it down .
3. Using either #39 or #40 depending on the condition of the rubber and vinyl seals, clean the door seals from top to bottom and all around and then wipe it down.
5. Use #40 on the door hinge area vinyls and rubbers to make them look new again.
6. Run over everything with a clean towel a few minutes after to make sure there is no excess junk left.
7. Use scratchX when or where necessary.
8. Put an application of cleaner wax on the paint in the doorjambs, I don't think this really applies to most people, but I like disclaimers :
BUT..... beware of waxing the area where peoples feet drag into the car for this reason: I know it sounds odd but my grandma uses this part of the Suburban to climb up like stairs and people like her would take a spill and break a few shoulders and hips if the paint there was slippery after being waxed. But i think this might just apply to her, I think ?


That's my doorjamb method, takes about 20 minutes per door, but gives it that new look. PM me if you have any issues or comments with what I said.

Thanks, Rich

[scrub]

Nice write up. I'll give that a try. I Quick Detail and Quick wax. Call me lazy!

[JeepZJlover]

i just use the steam cleaner on mine sorry to say but nothing can beat a hotsy machine